Carcinoid Tumor

Carcinoid tumor is a rare type of tumor that grows slowly. Malignant tumors are cancers that often continue to grow and may spread to other areas of the body. Benign (noncancerous) tumors tend to grow more slowly and don’t spread. Carcinoid tumors are somewhere between malignant and benign tumors.

Carcinoid tumors have been called cancer in slow motion, because if you have a carcinoid tumor, you may have it for many years and never know it. In rare cases, usually after a carcinoid tumor has spread, it can cause symptoms called carcinoid syndrome.

Facts about carcinoid tumor

Fewer than 10% of people with carcinoid tumors have or develop symptoms, although that statistic may vary, based on the location of the tumor. Because carcinoid tumors grow so slowly, they are usually not diagnosed until after you are over 60 years old. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor than men.

Experts don't know what causes carcinoid tumors. If you have a rare disease that runs in families called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, you have a higher risk of getting a carcinoid tumor. You may also increase your risk of getting this tumor by smoking.

Carcinoid tumors can grow anywhere in your body where hormone-producing cells are present. Hormones are your body's chemical messengers that travel through your blood. Most of carcinoid tumors form in the digestive tract.

Types of carcinoid tumors

Here are the areas of the body where carcinoid tumors are usually found:

Small intestine

Appendix

Rectum

Lungs

Colon

Stomach

Pancreas

Liver

Carcinoid tumors behave differently depending on how quickly they grow, if they spread to other areas of your body, and if they produce too much hormone. Types of carcinoid tumors include:

Slow-growing tumors. These tumors are the most common type. They usually remain small, under about an inch wide, and don’t grow quickly or spread to other areas of the body.

Faster-growing tumors. These tumors may grow more rapidly, grow larger, and spread.

Hormone-secreting tumors. These functioning carcinoid tumors produce hormones including serotonin. The effect of serotonin and other hormones causes the symptoms known as carcinoid syndrome.

Symptoms

Symptoms of carcinoid tumor depend on where the tumor is growing and whether the tumor is producing hormones and other chemicals (carcinoid syndrome). If you have a tumor that is not causing carcinoid syndrome, you may have no symptoms at all and your tumor may be discovered during a routine examination.

Symptoms of tumors not causing carcinoid syndrome may include:

Abdominal pain or pressure

Change in bowel habits

Blood in a bowel movement

Chest pain

Cough

Wheezing

Blood tinged sputum

Weight loss

Symptoms caused by carcinoid syndrome may be triggered by exercise, stress, and some foods or drinks, such as alcohol (especially red wine), chocolate, and certain cheeses. These are common symptoms:

Flushing of your face

Diarrhea

Asthma

Fainting

Heart palpitations

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a small carcinoid tumor that’s not causing carcinoid syndrome symptoms is difficult. These tumors are usually found when doing surgery or in an examination for another condition. For example, some carcinoid tumors are found when a doctor removes an appendix for appendicitis.

These tests may be used to help diagnose carcinoid tumor:

X-rays and scans. Chest X-ray, CT scan, and MRI scan are all useful in diagnosis.

OctreoScan. This is a special type of scan that can detect carcinoid tumors in more than 80 percent of cases. This scan is taken after injection of a radioactive substance that is picked up by carcinoid tumor cells.

Examination and biopsy. A surgical procedure to get a piece of the carcinoid tumor and look at it under a microscope is important for diagnosis. Sometimes this is done by using a flexible scope to look inside your body, a procedure called endoscopy. If a tumor is found, your doctor may take a piece for biopsy.

Urine test. If you have a carcinoid tumor that is producing too much hormone, it may show up as a type of acid in your urine called 5-HIAA (5-hydroxy indole acetic acid), a waste product of serotonin.

Blood test. A blood test may show an increased level of the hormone serotonin or high levels of chromogranin A (CgA), another substance made by most carcinoid tumors.

Treatment

The best treatment for small carcinoid tumors that have not spread is surgery. Surgery for these tumors can cure them. Once a tumor has spread or become too big to remove, other treatments may still work well. Here are some treatments that may be used:

Partial surgery. If a tumor is too big to take out completely, surgery may be used to remove part of it so that other treatments may work better.

Chemotherapy. Drugs that fight carcinoid tumor cells may be given into your bloodstream or taken by mouth. Usually it is best to give several of these drugs in combination.

Octreotide (Sandostatin). This is a drug that is given by injection. This drug helps control the symptoms of carcinoid tumor and may also block or reverse tumor growth.

Liver treatment. If a carcinoid tumor has spread into your liver, chemotherapy drugs may be injected into your liver, or small pellets may be injected that block blood flow to the tumor cells.

You may also want to get a second opinion before starting treatment. Some insurance companies require one for certain cancer diagnoses. In addition to providing more information, a second opinion can also provide peace of mind regarding your treatment decisions.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent the growth of a carcinoid tumor. One risk factor that you can control is smoking. You may be able to lower your risk for carcinoid tumor by not smoking. Treating carcinoid tumor may help you prevent the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome.

Managing carcinoid tumor

In addition to following all your doctors instructions, taking your medications, and keeping all your appointments, you can help manage carcinoid tumor by learning as much as you can about the disease and taking an active role in your treatment. Here are some other management suggestions:

Make sure you follow a nutritious, high-protein diet.

Avoid alcohol and foods that trigger carcinoid symptoms.

Avoid stress as much as possible.

Ask your doctor about the medications you take. Some medications, such as decongestants, asthma inhalers, and antidepressants, may trigger or make carcinoid symptoms worse.

Join a support group to learn more about carcinoid tumors and share your feeling with others.

Try mind-body exercises like yoga or tai chi to help reduce anxiety and stress.

Before appointments, write down your questions and bring them with you. For support during your appointments, bring a family member or close friend with you.

Home remedies

Home remedies will not cure carcinoid tumors. Vitamin supplements may be helpful. Mineral supplements such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium may also help. Freshly ground nutmeg will sometimes help control diarrhea. Always let your doctor know about any home remedies you want to try.